Noob question - Getting the 3D models to work on components

Layout 3D Models
1

Hi,
I have just switched to KiCAD after decades of Eagle/Autocad. This is my first project, and first post.

My design has an audio jack, that I found in the default library.
However, the 3D model in the default library is incorrect.
When I download a new model from the manufacturer, and try and replace it it, nothing appears.
Any pointers to how I can debug it?

The device is an SJ-3523-SMT (https://www.sameskydevices.com/product/interconnect/connectors/audio-connectors/jacks/sj-3523-smt-tr)
I downloaded the 3D model from the website as an STL file.
When I try and load it in the Footprint Editor, nothing appears.
How do I debug why the new model fails to load? is there a debug log, or error message somewhere?

All images combined in to one picture, as noobs, can only imbed one image :slight_smile:

Top: Default incorrect 3D model
Middle: Blank preview when I try to apply new model.
Bottom: What the new model should look like from the manufacturers website.

image
image862Ă—1849 93.2 KB

Thanks!

Jon.

2

Use the “STEP AP214 (.step)” model, not STL.

KiCad doesn’t support STL.

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3

Looking at Connector_Audio:Jack_3.5mm_CUI_SJ-3523-SMT_Horizontal footprint, the default 3D model path is

${KICAD8_3DMODEL_DIR}/Connector_Audio.3dshapes/Jack_3.5mm_CUI_SJ-3523-SMT_Horizontal.wrl

Jack_3.5mm_CUI_SJ1-3523N_Horizontal.step which you seem to have selected is a model for a different component.

4

both Jack_3.5mm_CUI_SJ1-3523N_Horizontal.step & Jack_3.5mm_CUI_SJ1-3523N_Horizontal.wrl render the same incorrect part for me?

image
image862Ă—722 32 KB

5

Perfect !! Thanks for the quick reply.
That worked perfectly.

image
image862Ă—722 34.6 KB

Thanks.

Jon.

6

I’ll try and work out how to submit this solution back to the default library as a pull request. But thats for another day :slight_smile:

7

The default library looks correct to me.

There’s two footprints:

  • Jack_3.5mm_CUI_SJ1-3523N_Horizontal
  • Jack_3.5mm_CUI_SJ-3523-SMT_Horizontal

image
image1110Ă—483 21 KB

Jack_3.5mm_CUI_SJ-3523-SMT_Horizontal definitely does not have
Jack_3.5mm_CUI_SJ1-3523N_Horizontal.wrl (or .step) model assigned by default in my 8.0.5 installation.

Jack_3.5mm_CUI_SJ1-3523N_Horizontal has the correct model:

image
image1099Ă—499 24.1 KB

Manufacturer’s 3D models are generally restricted by licenses so can’t be added to the default KiCad library. But someone can re-model them, then it’s acceptable.

8

Ok. I must have allocated the other model by mistake while I was tinkering, trying to find out why the one I was using had no model :slight_smile:
I’ll try and knock up an OpenSCAD model to give back to the default library.

Thanks for the explanation.

Jon.

9

OpenSCAD is used primarily for 3D printing, so it can’t export STEP natively.
Making it in FreeCAD would be a better option.

1 Like
10

Maybe this link helps a little bit:

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